Tag-printing press.



T. G. REILING.l TAG PRINTING PRESS.

APPLICATIUN man ocT. 16. 1-916..

1918. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Jan. 8,

Arron/ver T. G. HEILING.

TAG PRINTING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 16| 1916.

l ,52,949. Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THEODORE G. REILING, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

TAG-PRLNTING- PRESS.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

Application iled October 16,1916. Serial No. 126,015.

To all whom t may concern Be itY known that I, Tnnononn GEORGE REILING, a citizen of the United States, residingA at Louisville, in the county ot' Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useiul improvements in Tag-Printing Presses, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to apparatus for printing addresses ot' consignees on shipping tags.

1n establishments where great numbers of shipments are made which include many packages to the same address, each of which must be separately addressed, the labor entailed is considerable. Many ways have been devised to lessen this labor, of which may be mentioned the provision of tags which may be addressed by a clerk while the packages are being prepared. ln some es'V tablishments many clerks are employed mainly in addressing shipping tags. A late step, to save time and labor, is the provision of shipping tags in continuous strips, or in gangs, the tags being joined by weakened tear lines, whereby the individual tags may readily be detached, a string or wire being connected to each tag, wherewith it may be attached to a package. Printed addresses are preferable as being more legible than written ones. However it is impractical to set up type to print the tags, owing to the many changes, and the presence of an extra thickness, or re-inforcen'ient, about the hole at one end of the tag and the wires therethrough make it yimpossible to place the tags in a typewriter.

An object of this invention is to provide means whereby addresses may be printed. on wired shipping tags in gangs wWith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists ot' the novel construction and arrangement of parts illus trated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, wherein is set forth an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that such changes and modifications may be resorted to as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate like parts in the several views, Figure l is a perspective view of an embodiment ot the invention, as in service: Fig. 2, is a front elevation ofthe device with. the outer casing.

removed: Fig. 3, a top plan view ot' Fie. 2, with the impression box removed: Fig. 4,

a sectional detail through the impressionv pad: Fig. 5, a rear elevation of Fig. 2, with parts omitted and others broken away: Fig. 6, a section on line 6-6 of` Fig. 5: Fig. 7, a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 3: Fig. 8, a perspective view ot the impression box: Fig. i) a transverse section through the impression box: Fig. l0, a section on line 10-10 oi Fig. 5.

In the construction illustrated the reference numeral 10 designates a suitable base, preferably of wood, to which is attached a suitable casing -11- which is substantially rectangular in outline, and preterably constructed of sheet metal. A frame -12- is erected at right angles to the base, being supported by any suitable means, as illustrated it is secured to the inner side of the casing by means of screws -l? Non-essential portions of the frame are cut away'to reduce the weight. An operating lever leiwhich extends lengthwise ot' the trame, is pivotally attached to the forward portion thereotl by a bolt -15- and is provided at its rear end with a handle -16-, which extends through a slot 1.7- in the Jframe and through a corresponding slot 1S- in the casing. A reciprocal bar -l9- is connected with and receives motion from the operating lever by means ot' a pin -20- which enters an elongated slot 2lin the lever. rl`he bar 19 may be slidably connected with the trame by any suitable means, as illustrated the bar slides in dovetailed ways -22- (see Fig. l0) formed in tegrally with the frame. A lateral impression arm 23- extends from the bar 19 transif-ersely over the casing. An impression pad -25- is disposed on the casing directly below and in alinement with the impression box. This pad is ot' suitable yielding substance, such as sponge rubber, and .is secured to the underside oi' the casing by suitable mea-ns such as a bracket #2G- and is exposed through an opening -27- in the casing (see F ig. t) the pressure exerted on the pad being suliicient to bring it flush with the face of the casing. Suitable means are provided for returning the operating lever and associated parts to the normal or nonprinting position, said means illustrated comprising a spring disposed about a stud -29- on the trame. Une arm -30- of the springy is engaged with a pin -31- on the bar 19, the other arm w32- of the spring being engageable with either of a series of studs -33- whereby its tension may be regulated. The impression box comprisesa rectangular frame -35 to which side members -36- are attached. These side members extend above and belov the frame forming wings which are bent inward at asuitable angle. The upper wings 3T- engage over the beveled edges 38 of the impression arm 19, the upper edges of the frame bearing against the underside of the arm whereby the box is firmly held in v position, but may be easily slid o the arm 'endwise To the underside of the impression box a foraminous or reticulated bottom -3$) is securedby suitable means as soldering. Over the perforated bottom'39, an absorbent cover -40- is placed. This cover 2a may be of any suitable `material` such as canton flannel, that will absorb and hold ink of Va nature suitable for the purpose, and may be secured by means of an adhesive such as silicate of soda. Ink, as much as it will 25 absorb, may be applied to the cover by any suitable means, such as a brush. In printing,

any excess of ink will be forced by pressure,

up through the perforations in the bottom 'of the box, and when the pressure is removed 3g will be re-absorbed by the cover. A stencil Q* of substantially the same area as the impression box, is placedon the inked cover and is retained in position thereon by the viscosity of the ink. The stencil may be formed of any suitable medium, but pref erably one of a pliant nature and such as may be stencilized in a typewriting machine. An example of a suitable medium is the wax paper extensively used for making stencils to duplicate typewriting by what is known as the mimeograph process. This paper adheres readilyto the inked surface, the ink passing through only those portions whichV have been acted on by the type of the machine. Stencils may also be prepared with a pencil, or stylus. The paper is so cheap and stencils so easily prepared that it is economical to use them for a small number of impressions, notwithstanding the factthat they can only be used once. In service the impression box is removed7 ink applied to the absorbent cover, a flimsy stenciled sheet placed in a reversed position on the inked surface, the impression box placed on the overhanging arm 19, a tag placed in position, the handle depressed carrying the impression member downward until contact is made with the tag and the imprint made thereon. rIhe pressure on the handle is then 6a relaxed and the spring returns the parts to their normal position. The tags may be positioned by hand, but to facilitate operations I have provided means for feeding thetags forward automatically. VA bridge -15- 1s secured to the frame, being supported forward of the operating lever, on

lugs -46- which project from the frame.

A shaft -4-7- extended from the bridge, carries a feed wheel 4S- The periphery of the feed wheel is reduced centrally leaving marginal portions -50- which projecty slightly exterior of the casing and contact with a spring pressed roller -5l carried in a bracket 3` which extends from the frame l2. The feed wheel is provided on one side with an annular rack m5lwith which a pawl -55'- engages. This pawl is carried by an arm f56- which is pivotedeo-axially with the feed wheel and at its outer end has a pin -57- which extends 80 into an opening S-,.in the' operating lever. The opening 58 is somewhatvlarger than the pin, whereby the operating lever has a limited movement before it actuates the arm 5G.V As ythe operating lever is de- 85 pressed it carries with it the arm 56, and the pawl 55 rides over the teeth of the rack 54. When the arm 56 starts upward the pawl engages the rack and turns the feed wheel and consequently advances the strip of tags, which lies between it and thepressure roll, a distance proportionate to the upward rise of the feed lever. A curveddog (30* is adapted to be projected downward in the path of the operating lever to limit the upward movement thereof, and the consequent travel of the feed wheel and advance of the strip of tags. This dog bears against the lower side of the upper lug 46 and is retained in adjusted position by means of a set screw 61-. It is evident that if the strip of tags should commence to move before the stencil was entirely clear of the tag being printed, the impression would be blurred. It is to obviate this difliculty that the opening 58, in the operating lever, is made large enough to permit the lever to raise the impression box clear of the printed tag, before engaging the pin 57 and actuating the feed wheel to advance the strinO' of tags. fr skilful operator willbe able to advance the tags to a proper distance without depending on the stop 60. In starting operation one end of a Vstrip of tags is placed between the pressure rollv n and the feed wheel. The operating lever is then worked up and down through a limited distance until the first tag is prop-l erly positioned beneath the impression box, the operating lever is then completely de- 12@ pressed, thereby printing the first tag. The lever is then allowed to rise until the strip has been advanced a distance sufficient to bring the second tag into printing position, the dog 60 is then adjusted and the lever op- 125 erated as rapidly as desired. The lever isV fully depressed and raised each time. lVhen the required number of tags have been printed with a given address, the impression box is removed and the stencil removed and yg@ nzsaeas discarded. Another stencil is placed on the inked surface, the box replaced and printing operations resumed. Changing the' stencils takes very little time, and tags can be very rapidly printed, one boy being able to keep a large establishment supplied.

Having thus described my invention so that any one skilled in the art may make and use the same, I claim:

1. In apparatus as characterized, a casing, a frame associated therewith, a reciprocal bar mounted in said frame, an arm extended laterally from said bar over said casing, printing element removably positioned on said arm, '.ieans for reciprocating the bar, means for intermittently feeding a strip of wired shipping tags into printing position under said printing element, and an opera tive connection between said reciprocating and feeding means.

2. In a tag printing press, the combination of a frame, a reciprocal bar mounted therein, an arm extended laterally from the bar, a printing element carried by said arm, a lever adapted to reciprocate said bar, strip feeding means mounted in the frame, a lever for actuating said feeding means, and operative connections between said levers whereby the first named lever will move a predetermined distance before actuating the second named lever.

ln a tag printing press, a frame, a reciprocal bar mounted therein, an arm eX- tended laterally from the bar, a printing element detachably mounted on said arm, a. lever for operating the bar, a feed wheel mounted on said frame, a lever for actuating said wheel and an operative connection between said levers.

4. A casing, a frame mounted thereon, a bar slidably mounted in said frame, a lever for operating said bar, an arm extended laterally from said bar over said casing, an impression box removably positioned on said arm, an ink absorbent covering on said box, a stencil adherent 'to said covering and means fcr intermittently feeding a strip of wired shipping tags inte printing position under said impression box.

5. In a tag printing press, the combina* tion of a casino', a frame mounted thereon, a

b u reciprocal bar mounted in said frame, an

arm extended laterally from said bar over said casing, an impression box removably positioned on said arm, a feed wheel mounted on the frame, means for actuating the bar, means for actuating the feed wheel, and operative connections between said actuating means.

6. ln a tag printing press, the combination of a casing, a frame mounted thereon, a reciprocal bar mounted in said frame, an arm extended laterally from said bar over said casing, an impression box removably positioned on said arm, an impression pad on the casing, a feed wheel mounted on the frame within the casing having peripheral Hanges which extended exterior of the casing, a spring pressed roller mounted on the frame exterior of the casing and adapted to bear on said flanges, and interconnected means for operating the bar and feed wheel.

7. In atag printing press, a frame a reciprocal. bar mounted therein, an arm extended laterally from said bar, an operating lever having an elongated slot and a perforation therethrough, a pin extended from said bar and engaged in said slot, a feed wheel mounted on the frame, a lever for actuating said feed wheel, a pin extended from the actuating lever through the perforation in the operating lever.

8. ln a tag printing press, a frame, a reciprocal bar mounted thereon, an arm extended laterally from said bar, an operating lever connected with said bar having a perforation therethrough, a feed Wheel mounted on the frame, an actuating lever having a dog adapted to engage with said wheel, and a pin projecting from said actuating lever and entering the perforation in the operating lever.

9. fn a tag printing press, a frame, a reciprocal bar mounted thereon, an arm extended laterally from said bar, a printing member removably positioned thereon, an operating lever connected with said bar, a feed wheel mounted on the frame, an annular rack on the side of said wheel., an actuating lever adapted to engage with said rack, interconnections between said levers and means for limiting the movement of the levers.

THEODORE G. REILING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

